TAWAU: A respected independent preacher, Ustaz Ahmad Malik, 60, passed away just hours after reportedly reciting the azan as a fire swept through Kg Baru Batu 2, Jalan Apas around 3am on Tuesday.
Witnesses said he was calling the azan as a spiritual plea behind his home when he collapsed, believed to have suffered a heart attack.
He was rushed to Tawau Hospital but later pronounced dead. His house only sustained minor damage, but three neighbouring homes were destroyed.
One victim, Kamisah Larimba, 32, said she heard the azan before escaping with her children.
“We heard the call to prayer just as we woke up and fled. Later, we learned Ustaz had collapsed from a heart attack,” she said.
Resident Edwin @ Santo, 44, called for fire hydrants to be installed, saying villagers relied on backyard wells to slow the fire before firefighters arrived.
The Sabah Fire and Rescue Department said the blaze was under control by 4am, involving 25 personnel and multiple vehicles.
Tawau Police confirmed Ustaz Ahmad’s death was not officially linked to the fire, though he had prior medical history.
